FIVE GUYS
Five Guys operates fast-casual restaurants specializing in fresh-made hamburgers, french fries, and related accompaniments prepared according to proprietary recipes, ingredients, standards, and procedures. The franchise business model involves granting rights to franchisees to develop and operate one or more restaurants using the Five Guys System, including distinctive branding, decor, training, and supply requirements, typically under Development Agreements for multi-unit territories. The target market includes consumers seeking high-quality, customizable fast-casual American-style dining in retail shopping centers, urban locations, and select non-traditional venues like airports and arenas.
Franchise Costs
6% royalty + 2% Creative Fund (up to 4%)
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
This franchise did not provide Item 19 financial performance data.
Be careful if you are interested in investing. The lack of financial performance representations may indicate limited data or varying results across franchises.
Extracted Item 19 Section
How FIVE GUYS Compares
Key Insights
- Higher investment than 82% of Fast Food franchises
- Higher than average SBA loan default rate in Fast Food
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
FIVE GUYS Current | $978K – $1.4M | $25K | 6.0% | 945 |
| MCDONALD'S | $1.5M – $2.6M | $45K | N/A | 12,772 |
| AFC | $45K – $151K | $6K | 9.5% | 3,572 |
| SONIC DRIVE-IN | $1.7M – $3.1M | $15K | 5.0% | 3,441 |
| JIMMY JOHN'S | $366K – $728K | $35K | 6.0% | 2,647 |
| ARBY'S | $645K – $2.5M | $38K | 4.0% | 2,316 |
Fast Food Average 126 franchises | $594K – $1.5M | $35K | 6.1% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 126 Fast Food franchises by location count.
Locations & Growth
Outlet Growth Over Time
Total outlets at end of each year
Geographic Distribution (2024)
Outlets by state across the United States
+32 more states
SBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for FIVE GUYS franchisees (2010 – 2025)
Loans by Year
SBA 7(a) loan activity over time
* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.
Franchisee Contacts
1,554 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
| Name | SBA Loan |
|---|---|
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
1,554 Contacts Available
Unlock all FIVE GUYS franchisee contacts with verified contact information
Due Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
Frequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a FIVE GUYS franchise ranges from $977,850 to $1,375,750. This includes a franchise fee of $25,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 6.0% of gross sales.
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